Letters (Feb. 7, 2019)

Stockton City Council meeting Jan. 29 was a verbal love fest. Council members were friendly and jovial.

The two items up for discussion were Swenson Park Golf course and the use of the Strong Communities Initiative.

Swenson Park has a strong neighborhood advocates group that is organized and focused on saving that beautiful area. Van Buskirk residents need to organize.

In 2017, many concerned residents attended Strong Communities Initiative meetings where there was an overwhelming vote for parks and neighborhood pools.

Fast forward to the Jan. 29 meeting. It seems that now these residents’ meetings were for naught.

The anonymous “staff” in attendance at the 1/29/19 presented their new, updated options, two of which did not include local park swimming pools and, instead, suggested water spray features instead of pools. There is a plan for an aquatic complex at Oak Park. Great idea except not everyone can live in the Oak Park neighborhood. This fact can be seen as a social justice issue as those with money and connections can swim at their gyms. But not all of us can afford gym membership.

Important to note it is a 50 minute bus ride, including a downtown layover, just to get to Oak Park from the Victory Park neighborhood. Even more fun in the hot summer months. Just as long a journey from the McKinley Park neighborhood.

It is disheartening to realize that we residents of Stockton thought we were being asked to get involved in our city’s supposed commitment to our neighborhoods. It appears after listening to the recent city council/city staff exchange, that we were played.

Suddenly, after just one year, staff reminded the council and attendees that we can no longer afford to renovate and maintain our city parks as was first mentioned and advertised in the Strong Communities Initiative that we all voted for.

The next step happens in March or April when staff presents council with recommendations for a vote. Now is the time to let our council representatives know what our choices are for Stockton.

Katya Evanhoe, Stockton

Dividers not uniters

A Monday story in The Record had the headline: “Harris -The Powerful seek to divide America”. Wonder who Kamala Harris, D-California who is now running for President of the United States thinks “the powerful people” are? Harris is a millionaire along with her attorney husband who is also worth more than a million. Harris has had and still has some of the most powerful positions in life and government.

Many of the most powerful people in the United States are democrats. Look at founders and/or owners of Google, Facebook, Amazon, Starbucks, Tesla, for example. Are these the people Harris is referring to? I think not.

Our country is divided mainly by those who are in elected government positions and have the money, media and learned manipulative techniques to spread their divisive messages. Anyone who is running for President might think about promoting the way they can make our country the best it can be and not give out the divisive message Harris has decided to run on.

It has been far too long that those in power appear to think by dividing Americans by race, religion, political party, wealth and even educational levels they will win. Apparently, many of these power hungry, divisive people have only their own personal gain for power, dividing we Americans and increasing their own financial wealth. We Americans want a safe country for ourselves, our families and a government that works together for the success and positive benefits for the people of America.

Betty K. Thomas, Stockton

PALS needs pals

PALS, People Assisting Lodi Shelter, has been in the small brown building next to the city shelter trailer on Kettleman Lane for 14 years and is overcrowded. However, PALS is in the process of helping a greater number of homeless animals in Lodi by building a new larger facility called PALS Haven. PALS Haven is a 13,000 square-foot, $1.5 million animal shelter on two acres.

We are $75,000 short of completing Phase 1 that will house 50 dogs and 100 cats when fully completed this year.

In addition, PALS Haven Phase 1 will have both dog and cat isolation areas, 11 dog runs, a 500 square-foot open cat play room and will have “meet and greet” rooms/yards for potential adopters to get acquainted. Phase 2 will be to complete a 1,300-square-foot fully operational veterinary office and 2,000-square-foot upstairs to be PALS business offices.

Phase 3 is planned as a 3,000-square-foot education/activity center.

Phase 4 is planned as a 4,000-square-foot kennel to house an additional 50 dogs.

Please help PALS come to the rescue.

Bob Matthews, Lodi

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